pederasty

Part Eight

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, USAGI!”

The small house of Youhei rang with the song as adults and children celebrated Usagi’s birthday as the sun blazed steadily for the world.

It had been a month after Hanamichi and Kaede got back together. The couple along with Usagi and Mamoru still lived in Youhei’s home because Hanamichi refused to leave Youhei alone in the big house. Mamoru had his own room now though. Hiroaki got back to college and took HRM (Hotel and Restaurant Management) as a course. She also lived under Youhei’s roof. Kiminobu lived in an apartment not far from the hospital. He had moved on after he received the divorce papers and hearing of Ayako’s upcoming wedding. Akira popped up every now and then but only when Hiroaki’s not home. This observation didn’t escape the adult residents but none voiced it out. Hisashi went undercover again. Takenori still tutored Usagi but tension between him and Youhei was very thick that even the usual didn’t-care-much Mamoru would blink at the two adults.

“Blow the candles now, Usa-chan!” Hanamichi bounced excitedly beside his daughter.

“But not before you make a wish!” Akira butted in.

Usagi nodded then bent her head. She made a wish silently then blew the four candles. The rest of the partygoers cheered loudly for Usagi. Usagi happily smiled at everyone.

Ding-dong.

“Must be a latecomer,” Hanamichi mumbled under his breath as he stood up to answer the door. He was surprised to see who was at the door.

“Hello!”

“OOKUSO!” Hanamichi yelled then ugged the guy happily. “WHEN DID YOU GET BACK FROM THE STATES? YOU SHOULD HAVE CALLED US!” Hanamichi ushered the guy inside the house.

Ookuso winced slightly at the loud voice of Hanamichi but he was happy to be back. He honestly missed the loud redhead.

“You’re just in time. Usagi is celebrating her fourth birthday.”

“I saw the pictures you sent me. She’s very beautiful.” Ookuso hung his coat beside the door, and walked beside Hanamichi towards the lounge.

“Ha! Of course, she’s beautiful! She’s the genius’s daughter!” Hanamichi proudly raised his chin.

“Poor child,” Ookuso dramatically hanged his head in a praying-like manner.

“WHAT?!”

Ookuso laughed at Hanamichi’s outburst.

The people in the lounge stared at the two as they entered. Youhei recognized Ookuso and gleefully punched his shoulders. Ookuso retaliated. Hanamichi sweat-dropped when the two kept punching each other’s shoulders for nearly a minute. The two finally stopped when they realized their childish behavior. They laughed as fond memories of childhood cloaked them in happy nostalgia.

“When did you come back?” Youhei inquired.

“Three hours ago,” Ookuso replied. “I would have gone straight here but mom wished for us to stay in the same hotel.”

“You still lived with them?”

“I don’t have a choice. You know mom.” Ookuso saw all the other people in the room and flushed self-consciously.

“Guys! This is Ookuso. Usa-chan, come and met your Uncle Ookuso.” Hanamichi excitedly delivered the young redhead to Ookuso.

“Hello, Uncle Ookuso!” Usagi beamed brightly at the guy.

“Happy Birthday, Usa-chan,” Ookuso swatted in Usagi’s level. “Sorry, I didn’t bring any gifts.”

“That’s okay,” Usagi smiled. “To see Dadee happy is enough gift for me.”

Hanamichi tearfully smiled at his daughter.

Ookuso laughed. “Yeah. I know what you mean.”

“Have you met father, Uncle?” Usagi looked around the room and walked towards Kaede when she spotted him. She then dragged Kaede back to Ookuso. “Uncle Ookuso, meet my father.”

Ookuso raised an eyebrow at what Usagi said. He looked at Hanamichi for confirmation.

“We already met, Usa,” Kaede said calmly.

Usagi stared up at Kaede.

Ding-dong!

Hanamichi smiled apologetically at Ookuso before turning back to the front door.

“Takamiya!”

“Hello, Hanamichi! I didn’t come in a bad time, did I?” Takamiya asked with a wide smile.

Hanamichi ushered Takamiya inside. “You lost weight.”

“Thank you for the observation,” Takamiya answered sarcastically.

“How was the navy?” Hanamichi hastily hanged Takamiya’s coat. He led the guy into the lounge. “Guys! Looks who’s here!”

Takamiya smiled at everyone. But his smile faltered when he recognized Kaede. “What the hell are you doing here?!”

“He’s my father,” Usagi answered with an angry pout at Takamiya.

“Father?” Takamiya studied Hanamichi. “When did you get pregnant?”

Hanamichi blushed.

“They’re back together,” Ookuso said to Takamiya.

“Ookuso? When did you get back? Still living under your mother’s skirts?”

“I really enjoyed not being near you!”

“Hey! We’ve got visitors, ya know.” Youhei motioned for the two to shut up. “Come on, Takamiya, I’ll introduce you to everyone. Ookuso had already been introduced. By the way, did I mention that you lost weight?”

Takamiya rolled his eyes. “I didn’t join the navy just to get fatter, you know.”

“They starved ya?!”

“Shut up, Ookuso! And what happened to your hair? Decided that blonde just ain’t your color? Or maybe Mom likes you better with ebony-hair?”

Ookuso narrowed his eyes dangerously at Takamiya.

Hanamichi looked back and forth at the two nervously. He would have interrupted if the doorbell didn’t ring the third time that night. “Excuse me,” he murmured softly.

Kaede watched Hanamichi exit the room then looked back at the glaring pair of males. He gently pulled Usagi away from the two and placed her beside the snoozing Mamoru.

“Stay there, Usa,” Kaede commanded softly.

Usagi nodded.

Kaede smiled at the little girl. He tenderly placed a kiss on the top of the curly red hair.

“Noma!” Youhei exclaimed loudly.

Kaede looked back at the Sakuragi guntai. ‘Looks like everyone is here,’ he thought with an inward smile. Hanamichi had been telling him about how much he missed his old friends for days now.

“Guys! This is Noma,” Hanamichi introduced the man with a mustache to his guests.

“My god! Is this a reunion?” Kiminobu uttered with wide eyes.

“Looks like it,” Hiroaki said as she chewed a piece of carrot.

“They’re the guntai, aren’t they?” Akira inquired to Takenori.

Takenori nodded. “They’re trouble with capital letters.”

“They seem to be friendly.” Akira grinned when he saw the three other members of the guntai tackle the one called Noma to the floor.

“Hmp! Trouble.”

Akira smirked at the huge man beside him. “They’re just friends, Akagi-san.”

“What do you mean?” Takenori hovered threateningly towards Akira.

Akira just laughed at Takenori. He walked away from him and sat beside Usagi and Mamoru. Takenori was left with a nasty scowl on his face.

Hisashi smirked along with Akira. He knew what his friend was implying. He had been standing silently in the corner near where Mamoru was snoozing. He smiled broadly at Kiminobu when the doctor looked at him.

Kiminobu smiled back at Hisashi then gave Hiroaki a surprised look when he was struck with an elbow.

Hiroaki feigned ignorance.

~~~~~~~

The party ended around eight that night. Kiminobu and Hisashi left together. Akira and Kaede took the two kids with them to Hisoka and Mona. Hiroaki went with Takenori to the university.

The five friends remained in the house and talked about the years that passed.

“Shit! Did you see those hips?”

Hanamichi wordlessly followed the gangs’ eyes. He involuntarily gagged at the sight.

“Talk about gigantic.”

“That’s obesity.”

“You have the same width on the stomach, Takamiya.”

“WHAT?! How dare you?” Takamiya glared indignantly at Ookuso as the rest of the Sakuragi guntai laughed.

“You have to admit that you were fat before,” Youhei interjected before the two came to blows.

“That was years ago,” Takamiya said defensively.

“The navy training must have made you lose all those fats.” Noma studied the once-fat Takamiya from head to toe. “We can actually see your muscles.”

Takamiya glared at Noma.

Hanamichi silently laughed at his friends. He had to admit that he missed them tremendously.

The three had left Kanagawa before graduating from college. Takamiya joined the navy because his father urged him to; his father was once a navy officer. Noma went to Okinawa, and helped his older sister with the retail business that she started over there. Ookuso went to America to be with his parents.

“That little girl of yours is very much like you, Hanamichi,” Ookuso stated softly. He had been the first one to leave Kanagawa so he didn’t witness Hanamichi’s wedding with Haruko and Usagi’s birth.

Hanamichi nodded proudly.

“Beautiful girl, isn’t she?” Takamiya took a draft of lemonade. He stared at the glass. “Is it just me or that lemonade is served in this house for every occasion?”

Youhei smiled sheepishly. “Only during the summer, Takamiya.”

“Autumn is knocking on the door.” Noma sat back at his chair. The gang was having their reunion in Youhei’s lounge and in front of teletelevision. It was on the TV that they saw the humungous fat lady.

“Would you like some hot chocolate then?”

“Quit being such a mother hen, Youhei. We’re fine with the lemonade,” Ookuso butted in. “When are you getting married?”

Youhei’s jaw dropped at the sudden question.

“He hasn’t found the girl yet, Ookuso,” Hanamichi defended Youhei. “But he found the guy.”

“Oh,” the three replied nonchalantly. They simultaneously drank their lemonade, and then froze.

“Guy?” Takamiya was the first to get his vocal chords to move.

Youhei turned begging eyes at Hanamichi to shut him up. But Hanamichi ignored him.

“He fell for Gori.”

The three stared at Youhei like he was a stranger with the most peculiar language.

Youhei sank in his chair with a blush. “It wasn’t like that,” he defended himself strongly.

“It was supposed be just a joke,” Takamiya blurted in amazement. “You’re not supposed to take it seriously.”

“You poor unfortunate soul,” Noma exclaimed like a priest.

The rest of the gang stared at Noma in surprise.

Noma smiled at them sheepishly. “I’ve been watching Disney’s Little Mermaid with my niece for two days straight last week,” he admitted.

“Little Mermaid? As in, Ariel and Sebastian?” Takamiya asked incredulously.

“You forgot Flounder,” Ookuso pointed out.

“And King Triton.”

“And Prince Eric.”

“Look, guys. I got the point, okay?” Noma exclaimed to prevent any more mention of the characters in Little Mermaid.

Youhei laughed silently at his friends. He knew that he shocked their system with the news that he fell for Takenori. He also knew that they were just picking their thoughts together so they wouldn’t be too tactless.

“Takenori is a very nice person,” Youhei said to get the group’s attention.

“Yeah,” Takamiya agreed. “But you’re not supposed to fall for him.”

“Takamiya’s right.” Noma looked at Youhei in pity. “We all know that Gori is homophobic. He can’t stand Hanamichi because Hanamichi is gay.”

“You’re wrong on that aspect,” Youhei defended Takenori.

“That he’s homophobic?” Ookuso asked in disbelief.

Youhei took a deep breath before answering. “He… he’s gay.”

The three gaped at Youhei. Even Hanamichi sputtered in his drink.

“Are you sure?” Noma asked in shock.

“You’re not hallucinating, are you?” Takamiya blinked wide eyes at Youhei.

Youhei smiled sadly, his eyes obviously darkened with pain.

The four friends sighed.

“My God, Youhei! It’s dumb enough to fall for Gori but do you have to make yourself believe your own lie?” Hanamichi was now honestly worried for Youhei. It was wise that he hadn’t left Youhei alone in his house. The outcome might have been tragic.

“You mean you’re not aware of this?” Takamiya asked Hanamichi.

“I know that he had feelings for Gori, but I didn’t realize that he still harbored hope for a relationship with the guy.” Hanamichi took a gulp of lemonade. He gave Youhei a sympathetic look.

“Don’t pity me,” Youhei said with conviction. “I’ll forget him, someday.”

Youhei’s four friends averted their gaze away from Youhei. Each understood that pity would only make matters worse.

“I have a girlfriend now,” Ookuso dised ted to change the subject.

Takamiya automatically rebutted. “Your mommy allowed her little baby to have a girlfriend? Is she sick or something?”

“Excuse me,” Ookuso huffed with indignation. “At least I’ve got a girlfriend.”

“You don’t think that I have a girlfriend?” Takamiya moved to remove his wallet, and then pulled out five pictures of girls. “Look at these babes. They’re all my girls,” he boasted.

The three hovered at the pictures. Youhei leaned back to his chair and watched his friends study the pictures. He smiled at the invisible support the guys always gave each other.

“They’re beautiful, Takamiya,” Noma said softly.

Takamiya nodded proudly.

“Are they sane?”

Takamiya face-faulted at the question. “OF COURSE, THEY ARE!” he yelled at his friends.

Each of the three guntai who saw the pictures had skeptical looks on their faces. Youhei had gotten curious and took a peek at the pictures. He couldn’t help sharing the other three’s opinion.

“How did you court them?” Youhei asked to pacify Takamiya’s ego. “Must be lethal.”

Ookuso, Noma and Hanamichi snickered when Takamiya turned killer-eyes to Youhei. Youhei just grinned at the navy officer.

“Hmp!” Takamiya decided to ignore his friends. He turned to Hanamichi. “When did you and Rukawa get back together?”

“About a month ago,” Hanamichi replied with a smile. It always made him smile every time someone asked about him and Kaede. “It was the Sendoh Enterprise that bought the Hino Company. We met on the welcome party, and the rest is history.”

“Why did he leave five years agookusokuso asked the happy redhead.

“I hope his reasons are valid,” Noma interjected.

Hanamichi nodded at Noma. “His father wanted him to stop seeing me. He had to follow or else I won’t be getting my college scholarship.”

“He could have provided for your schooling,” Takamiya pointed out.

“Yeah. But he wanted me to be a professional basketball player.”

Noma looked at Ookuso and then Takamiya. “I think his reasons suck.”

“I agree,” Takamiya raised his hand.

“Ditto,” Ookuso said then gulped down his lemonade. “Is he married? I saw the little one. You know the one beside Usagi?”

“The sleeping kid.” Takamiya nodded. “Detective Mitsui was near the kid.”

“You know Mitsui-san?” Youhei blinked at Takamiya.

“Yeah,” Takamiya replied. “He was once a high ranking officer in my unit. He quit about three years ago. I heard he had become a detective.”

“Oh.”

“Is he together with Megane-kun?”

“No,naminamichi answered for Youhei. “But they are pretty close. So they left the house together.”

“He’s gay,” Takamiya informed.

“We noticed,” Youhei and Hanamichi chorused.

“Whoah! Who’s this Mitsui?” Ookuso interrupted.

Noma also nodded, looking perplexed.

“The silent guy near the window. And he was standing near the children. Is he related to that boy?” Takamiya asked the redhead.

“No,” Hanamichi shook his head. “But he was close with Kaede and Akira so Mamoru calls him Uncle.”

“Kaede is Mamoru’s father, is he not?” Noma inquired.

“Again, no,” Hanamichi sighed. “Mamoru is Akira’s child. He was the one who had gotten married five years ago with a socialite.”

“How about Rukawa? Did he get married too?” Ookuso poured himself another glass of lemonade.

“Kaede was never married. As I said before, he only left me because his father wished us to part.”

“Guys,” Youhei called the group’s attention softly. “Bel Han Hanamichi, okay? If you had been with the two for the past few weeks, you’ll know that both are very much in love it’ll make you gag. So I think that you should forget about why they parted five years ago. We have something to thank for it, because if not, then little Usagi would never have been born.”

Takamiya, Ookuso and Noma glanced at each other then shrugged.

“Okay,” Noma nodded. The other two nodded as well.

“By the way, why are you all here?” Hanamichi asked the three.

“You invited us,” Takamiya frowned at Hanamichi.

“Yeah. You even sent a round trip airplane ticket.” Noma pulled out a crumpled ticket. “See?”

Hanamichi stared at the ticket with wide eyes. Youhei snickered when realization hit.

“My mother was invited too. And she took me along,” Ookuso admitted with a red face.

michmichi smiled tenderly. ‘You sly fox,’ he thought with a warm feeling in his heart. ‘I love you.’

Suddenly a loud ringing was heard.

Takamiya, Noma, and Ookuso automatically took out their cell phones. Each had conversations with their caller. Hanamichi and Youhei could only blinked at the three.

“I’m sorry, Hanamichi,” Takamiya smiled regretfully at the redhead. “But it was my commanding officer. I have to go back to base.”

“It was my sister who called.” Noma had a similar expression as Takamiya. “I have to go home. My brother-in had had an accident. No one is watching over the kids.”

Hanamichi’s eyes darkened as he realized that they’re now living new and different lives. He had to blink back the tears as he nodded to the two.

“Err?” Ookuso said hesitantly. “My mother just called. She wants me back to the hotel. I’m sorry, Hanamichi, Youhei.”

“No,” Hanamichi sniffed. “It’s okay. I hope to see all of again next year. Maybe each of you will have a little one by that time.”

The three simultaneously stood up. Youhei and Hanamichi took a longer time to stand. Hanamichi was threatening to cry his eyes out like a kid. He was thankful that Usagi wasn’t home.

“Come on, Hanamichi.” Noma hugged the redhead.

“It’s not like we won’t be seeing each other again.” Takamiya hugged Hanamichi next.

Ookuso hugged the redhead last. “I’ll e-mail you when I reach the US.”

Hanamichi nodded then let out the tears. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I missed all of you, and now yll hll have to go again.”

The departing three cried along with the redhead.

“Shit, Hanamichi! You just ruined my tough guy appeal,” Takamiya joked as he sniffed.

Noma and Ookuso laughed tearfully. The three formed a tight circle around Hanamichi and gave each other a group hugs.

Youhei wiped a tear with a handkerchief before he joined the masses of body around Hanamichi. The guntai comforted each other for a few minutes before parting with more tears from the redhead.

“I’ll take you to your destinations,” Youhei volunteered. “My van is out of the garage anyway.”

“That would be nice, Youhei,” Ookuso said. “I don’t see any taxi cabs around here.”

“Taxi cabs rarely venture near here since majority of the homeowners here have a car,” Youhei informed the three as he escorted them out of the house. He turned around and faced the redhead at the door. “Wanna come, Hanamichi?”

Hanamichi shook his head. “I might end up bawling like a baby and embarrassing all of you.”

The four nodded in agreement. They then entered Youhei’s van.

Hanamichi waved at the van as it disappeared. He sniffed as he made his way back to Youhei’s house. He heavily slumped on the cushioned sofa in the living room and curled up like a wounded kitten.

“You’re supposed to be happy that your friends had come for a visit,” a baritone voice spoke softly near Hanamichi’s ear.

“Fox!” Hanamichi straightened and hugged Kaede tightly. “Thank you for the gift.”

“You’re crying,” Kaede hugged Hanamichi back. “Why is that?”

“I’m just happy,” Hanamichi sniffed as he smiled goofily at Kaede. “And sad.”

“Sad?” Kaede carefully shifted Hanamichi so the two of them were now lying on the sofa.

Hanamichi moved a little more so he’d be half-lying on Kaede. He purred as Kaede tenderly massaged his shoulders and back. “It’s sad to see them go.” He felt Kaede nod and tightened his hold on his fox.

Kaede ran his hands on the redhead’s back in comforting motions. They stayed in that position for a moment. Kaede suddenly felt a restless hand moved about in his chest. His heart pounded erratically as the hand move lower.

Hanamichi grinned as he felt the insistent pounding in his ear. He moved closer and straddled Kaede. He positioned his hands beside Kaede’s head and rose a bit.

“Thank you for inviting them,” Hanamichi whisd sod softly.

Kaede smiled in response. He slowly wrapped his hand around Hanamichi’s head and lowered the redhead for a soft, yet passionate kiss.

Hanamichi moaned as his body responded to the kiss. He opened his mouth and let the fox ravish his mouth. He yelped when his shirt was ripped apart.

Kaede grinned up at the surprised redhead. He prevented Hanamichi from moving by planting his hands to Hanamichi’s waist.

“Stay there.”

Hanamichi’s eyes reflected the heat on Kaede’s eyes. He grinned back at Kaede as he grinded their arousal together. He shrugged his shirt off and placed his hands on Kaede’s shirt buttons. Buttons flew in every direction when Hanamichi became impatient.

Kaede’s hands moved from Hanamichi’s waist to his fly. He opened the fly and dived his hand inside.

Hanamichi gasped as he supported himself with a hand in Kaede’s chest. He moaned as Kaede expertly grasped his member. His closed his eyes as white-hot passion surged throughout his body.

“Kaede?”

“Hmn?”

Hanamichi opened his eyes to regard Kaede with a smile. “Let’s go to bed.”

Kaede smile back. Suddenly, he sat up. Hanamichi would have fell off but Kaede caught him. Hanamichi was still straddling Kaede and their present position on brought their arousal into much friction.

Hanamichi whimpered in a soft agonized tune. Kaede just held his breath for a second before standing up, and carried Hanamichi to their bedroom.

***

Hiroaki watched the deserted street indifferently as she walked to Takenori’s car. She threw her books at the back seat before slumping down on her seat. She glanced at Takenori as the guy entered the car.

“Did you get your assignments done?” Takenori asked as he turned on the ignition.

Hiroaki turned away from Takenori as the car moved out of the parking lot.

“Yeah,” she sighed. “The librarian was very helpful.”

“They usually are,” Takenori said. He glanced briefly at Hiroaki. “How have you been faring?”

“What do you mean?” Hiroaki feigned innocence. She knew what Takenori was asking about.

“No more morning sickness? Sudden cravings?”

“I’m fine,” aki aki answered defensively.

“Are you pregnant?” Takenori asked bluntly.

“None of your business.”

“Who’s the father?”

“I said none of your business.”

“Is it Sendoh?”

Takenori glanced at Hiroaki in the corner of his eye when the girl remained silent. He figured that he’s right.

Tense silence cloaked the car for a few minutes.

“I’m so stupid,” Hiroaki disclosed. “I’m so stupid.”

“You’re a top student,” Takenori informed softly.

Hiroaki glanced at the big guy besier. er. “I fell in love with a pervert whose only purpose of life is to have sex with whoever he sets his eyes on.”

“Don’t look down on the guy too much, Hikaru,” Takenori said softly. He’s the only one who used Hiroaki’s real name. “They say that when someone falls in love with a hateful person, that person had found something good about that hateful person.”

“Does that apply to you and Youhei?”

“Leave Youhei out of this,” Takenori barked.

Hiroaki rolled her eyes. “Yeah! Sure! Talk about my love-life but not Takenori’s.”

“I don’t have a love-life.”

“Of course,” Hiroaki agreed. “But you’ll have one if you’d only let Youhei in.”

“He’s gay.”

“So? Big deal.” Hiroaki glared at Takenori. “Youhei loves you. Like a lot. But you refused him because he’s a guy. If he had been a girl, he would never have even looked at you.”

Takenori gave Hiroaki a death glare.

Hiroaki just raised her eyebrow at Takenori. “You have a very good physique. But you don’t have something that a Youhei-girl would find interesting.”

Takenori turned away from the frank girl beside him. He now glared at the pavement in front of him.

Hiroaki sighed. “Give Youhei a chance, Akagi. He deserves it.”

“He raped me and you think he deserves a chance? What do you take me for?”

“Oh please,” Hiroaki huffed. “Just tell me honestly, did you enjoy it?”

Takenori didn’t answer.

Hiroaki chuckled.

“Shut up,” Takenori growled as his face heated up.

Hiroaki ignored the guy and continued to laugh.

“What are you going to do about the baby?” Takenori asked suddenly. He sighed when the girl hushed.

Hiroaki’s eyes began to cloud with tears. She sniffed before answering. “I don’t know.”

Takenori felt sympathy for the girl. He warily passed the tissue box to Hiroaki.

Hiroaki mumbled a quiet thanks as she cried. She suddenly felt the fear of not knowing what to do. For all her life, she had always had a plan. Every detail was carefully noted and done religiously. But now, she felt the pang of indecision.

“We’re here for you, Hikaru,” Takenori broke the silence softly.

Hiroaki smiled gratefully at Takenori.